This part of the site features monthly devotional
thoughts by the Association's Chaplain, with the goal of encouraging Signal
Corps OCS Graduates to be exceptional in their lives and to live life at a
higher level. Our current Chaplain is of
the Christian faith, so naturally his devotionals are fashioned around his
Christian beliefs.Your comments and
suggestions are welcome and can be offered directly to the Chaplain by eMail at:
MaxHolt@ArmySignalOCS.com

by LTC (R) Max Holt, Class 02-67

March
- April
2017

Remember The Alamo

As you already know, on March 6, 1836, just
before dawn, thousands of Mexican soldiers attacked approximately
200 defenders inside the famed ALAMO, in San Antonio, Texas.

All defenders were killed, but their valiant
stand against overwhelming odds served to inspire the outnumbered
Texas Army, fighting for Texas’ independence.

Twenty-one days later, at Goliad, Texas, the
Mexican Army massacred 500 unarmed Texas Army prisoners. Soon, the
Texas Army had two rallying cries that would eventually insight
courage and tenacity among its soldiers: REMEMBER THE ALAMO and
REMEMBER GOLIAD. The Mexican Army had no idea that those two events
and the resulting slogans, would lead to Mexico’s defeat, and to
Texas becoming an independent country. Throughout our history, there
have been those times and those people who uttered words that
inspired others to action.

“If the freedom of speech is taken away, then
dumb and silent we may be led, like sheep to the slaughter.”
George Washington

“Give me liberty or give me death.” Patrick
Henry

“The patriot’s blood is the seed of freedom’s
tree.” Thomas Campbell

“Four score and seven years ago...” Abraham
Lincoln

“Never in the field of human conflict was so much
owed by so many to so few.” Winston Churchill

(Heard in
Vietnam) “You’ve never lived until you’ve almost
died. Freedom has a flavor the protected will never taste.”
Unknown

I could go on and on with quotes but the ones
above make the point… words matter… words inspire… words change the
world.

What about your words? What have you said that
mattered in a significant way? ho have you inspired to take some
sort of positive action? The other day I was playing TRAINS with my
five-year-old grandson. I was teaching him how to build a bridge
that would allow the wooden tracks to cross each other, without
crashing the train. He hung on my every word. Eventually, he learned
how to do it on his own. A few days later, I noticed he had designed
other successful changes to the track. He told his dad that Grandpa
was “really smart.” Sadly, it won’t take him long to
discover that Grandpa is like everyone else…learning life through
trial and error…mostly error. But, the most powerful words I have
ever said to him, and his twin sister,… “I LOVE YOU.”